Re: spark plug gap for 53 Clipper and jack position

Posted by Ross On 2017/4/15 6:03:10

Sparkplug gap of .025 is what you want. Plugs should be tightened to 25-35 ft-lbs.

Is it important? Yes, for a couple of reasons: first is that you don't want them to work loose and attempt to launch through the hood of the car. Second is that the plugs must be firmly seated so they can transfer heat out into the cylinder head. By their shape, they are greatly heated by the combustion gasses. If not screwed in nice and tight they get much hotter than designed which can cause them to misfire under load. Further, if they are that hot, they can cause pre-ignition--pinging or knocking that is very destructive, not to mention annoying.

When I was younger and dumber I used the technique I learned as a farmboy which was to put the plugs in hardly more than finger tight as we were forever changing plugs on one of the tractors. My 60 Lark would knock like crazy on hard pulls. Since I started using a torque wrench to reef them down I have never hear another ping from that car.

Caveat to 54 Senior car owners or those with 10 mm plugs--look up the correct torque for those as I don't have it at my finger tips this morning.